The American bison or Buffalo:- can grow to be 5 to 6 feet tall, with a length of 7 to 11 feet. Also, males can weigh up to 2,200 lbs. and females up to 1,320 lbs.- has a distinctive hump on its shoulders.

Bison, Buffalo Overview

The bison or buffalo are very familiar species that have roamed over North America to Canada in the early centuries. It was not hard to find out that these herds are nearby. With their thunderous stampede, anyone would surely get a glimpse of the herd traveling to anywhere. However, believed to be existence in millions in the early centuries, the spread of hunters contributed to its dwindling numbers.

Fruits and Benefits from Bisons

Man, just like today, is wise enough to find certain benefits from such animals that include food and clothing. Once such was discovered, it was evident that the bison or the buffalo numbers had tremendously dropped, owing to the fact that man had found something that could help in becoming an alternative towards the more common sources of their necessities. The result was evident that such species are now being protected by certain associations to prevent such a creature from reaching extinction. To date, this mammal can usually be found in the areas along North America and Canada, but being as minimal in numbers that they are, each site may be a rarity today.

The Species of the Bison

Bison are largely traced from North America. It was believed that their origin was connected with that of the Eurasian species known to be of two types, namely the Wood Bison and the Plains Bison. It is not hard to spot a Wood Bison. Known to be one of Canada’s largest terrestrial mammals, it has a massive head with dark brown color, a high hump on its large shoulders, and long shaggy hair on its shoulders and front legs. Their horns are short and black curving inwards while female’s horns are straight. The male wood bison is usually larger than their female counterparts. Compared to the plain bison, the wood bison is also taller and stocky.

Bison as a means of food.

Among the reasons for the near extinction of the bison is that as early as the 1800’s hunters had already looked upon this animal as a sort of substitute for the more common food that we get from cattle today. The bison is a nutrient dense food, owing to its proportions of protein, fat, minerals and fatty acids. The red meat that if provides is truly rich in minerals, especially iron. The bison mean should not be in any way confused as being a competitor with that of cattle meat since for one, the availability of bison meat is not that abundant compared to that of cattle meat which majority of the people prefer and consume. It should be remembered that bison meat is only an alternative and is not meant to replace the cattle meat that most people are accustomed to today.

Increased concern for the Bison

Just like any organization that becomes alarmed at the possibility of any creature that is nearing extinction; the bison is something that is not to be left out. Extinction for this animal came as early as the 1800’s and if there is no group that will stand in between and try to protect the said species, then they may all be as good as gone today. The interest for such a creature has attracted more people through the years and this is expected to swell even more.